(Sorry about the gross fuckass images.. for context the first one is the bruise I had initially, the second, third and fourth is the current state it’s in at different angles, I have blood crust because I don’t want to rip it out and cause it to bleed again, I’m in the process of softening it)

Hello, I’m 16, very scared and I need some advice. I got a double helix and a rook done simultaneously 5 days and 6 hours ago (on the 18th around 4:00 PM).

Two days in (on the 20th), I developed a massive blue/purple bruise all over the upper rim. It wasn’t too painful at first. I used ice to constrict the blood vessels, kept cleaning it with saline solution, and took warm showers to help dissolve the blood crust. Initially, I made the mistake of using a Q-tip with saline to clear the crust, but I quickly learned that wasn't good because it kept triggering fresh bleeding. Because of that, there is still some noticeable blood crust around the jewelry in my photos (sorry about that..).

The blue bruise has completely disappeared now, but the upper ear is left very pink, shiny, swollen, and extremely painful. I genuinely couldn’t sleep at all last night because of a severe, burning, throbbing sensation. Even resting on a donut pillow with zero physical pressure on the ear didn't relieve the pounding.

The throbbing does relax significantly when I take ibuprofen, so I’ve started taking it regularly to manage the swelling and pain.

I’m fully aware that peak swelling can delay until day 5, and that getting 3 fresh cartilage piercings at once causes a massive amount of trauma to the ear. I went into this knowing that, but I’m finding it really difficult to differentiate severe inflammatory irritation from an actual infection. I haven’t seen any wet yellow/green pus so far, but since there is dried blood crust covering the holes, I can't be 100% sure.

The swelling is so tight that there is no bar space left on the helix studs and I'm worried about embedding. I am planning to contact my piercer tomorrow to get it checked out and potentially get longer bars put in to relieve the pressure and rule out an infection.

should I be worried about infection? If so, how can I prevent this from happening? I really don’t want this to turn into some shit like cauliflower ear or getting a surgery.

Age: 5 days and 6 hours old

Jewellery shape: flatback labret, titanium of some sort.

It has not been downsized.

I use neilmed saline spray twice a day, the first couple days I overcleaned I think

So I need some advice. I definitely want to make this a double helix (had it probably 10 years ago and want to get it back) with a little flower under the butterfly. (Also that’s a freckle next to the butterfly not anything else, it’s a decade old and totally healed)

Since I’m already getting one piercing, thinking about making it two. I’ve been longing over this Madame Butterfly piece as a vertical helix online for months now, but I need real talk advice on how practical it would be. Obviously I wouldn’t get pierced with it and would only put that in once it heals, but how comfortable would it be for daily wear? Is it just a special occasion piece? Are vertical helixes in general more uncomfortable, will my hair/glasses be an issue?

Any advice welcome!

Got the double helix a while ago. She’s really bad… does anyone have any advice on how to get rid of this?

Got it a week and a half ago had to change the bar different piercers told me it was pierced wrong and I clean it almost daily and it’s always irritated

(Repost) I got my belly button pierced on January 31, 2026, and I’m worried about how it’s healing. I’ve attached recent photos for reference.

I’ve had ongoing irritation with this piercing for months. Some days it looks almost completely fine, but other times it’s red, crusty, and irritated.
Here’s what I’ve noticed:

The top piercing hole is frequently red and irritated.
The jewelry seems more exposed than it used to be, and the bar now looks like it’s sticking more straight up instead of following its original curve.
The top ball seems to sit farther away from my skin, and more of the metal bar is visible.
The skin between the top and bottom holes looks thinner than it did originally, although I’m not completely sure.
There’s a bump around the piercing, and I’m wondering whether it’s an irritation bump, scar tissue, or a keloid.
Recently, it’s become painful when I touch it or when anything presses against it. Now it hurts when I move around and do normal daily activities.
I’ve noticed whiteish/pale-yellow discharge that was sometimes thick and creamy and other times thinner and watery. I didn’t notice a bad smell.
I’ve had crusting and scabbing around the holes.
At one point, the area felt warm, although it hasn’t consistently felt warm.
After showering, some of the discharge and crusting seemed to clear up.
For aftercare, I used sterile saline wound wash regularly for months, but I’ve run out. I’ve used approximately two cans in total.
I’m worried that the piercing might be migrating or rejecting because the bar looks more exposed and the skin seems thinner. I’m also concerned about a possible infection because of the pain, redness, and previous discharge.

**For anyone experienced with navel piercings:**
Does this sound like migration or rejection?
Could the bump be an irritation bump or hypertrophic scar rather than a keloid?
Does the change in the bar’s angle and visibility sound concerning?
Has anyone experienced similar symptoms with their navel piercing?
I’m looking for honest advice and experiences. I understand that photos can’t provide a definite diagnosis, but I’d appreciate any insight into what might be happening.
**My piercing is 9-10 months old**
**My piercing is a common curved barbell**
**My jewelry has not been downsized**
**I used saline solution two times a day, like recommended**
**I have never encountered an unfortunate event with my belly button piercing. I have not snagged it on anything, or harmed it in any way**
**(I am also a side sleeper)**

Its day 2 after getting my piercing done and im worried is my lip swallowing my piercings the piercer gave me too short bars i think

This is pierced wrong isn’t it ? Got it last Saturday

I got my nipples pierced like 3 months ago? and I also got two side labrets and one vertical labret about a month ago. My question is can I get a medusa and/or vertical anti eyebrow this year or should I wait a year before getting more. please say yes I’m dying here.